The Yūshin Maru No. 2 (第二勇新丸, Daini Yūshin Maru) is a Japanese-registered whale catcher that undertakes whaling operations in the North Pacific Ocean and Southern Ocean. Along with other vessels of the Japanese whaling fleet, she has been featured on American television since 2008, in the documentary-style reality series Whale Wars.[3]
 A render of the Yūshin Maru type whale catcher.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Japan | |
| Name | Yūshin Maru No. 2 |
| Owner | Kyodo Senpaku Kaisha, Ltd. |
| Operator | Institute of Cetacean Research |
| Port of registry | Tokyo, Japan |
| Builder | Naikai Shipbuilding & Engineering, Setoda |
| Laid down | March 6, 2002 |
| Launched | June 11, 2002 |
| Identification | |
| Status | in active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Whaler |
| Tonnage | 747 gross tonnage (GT) |
| Length | 69.61 m (228.4 ft) o/a |
| Beam | 10.8 m (35 ft) (moulded) |
| Height | 19.5 m (64 ft)[2] |
| Draft | 4.718 m (15.48 ft) |
| Installed power | 5280 PS / 3900 kW[2] |
| Speed | 22 kts |
| Crew | 8 |
Sea Shepherd confrontations
editOn January 15, 2008, two members of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, traveling on the MV Steve Irwin, boarded the Yūshin Maru No. 2 without permission. They were detained on board the ship for two days before being transferred to the Australian customs vessel MV Oceanic Viking.[citation needed]
On February 6, 2009, the MV Steve Irwin collided with the Yūshin Maru No. 2 as the activist vessel attempted to obstruct the transfer of a whale up the slipway of the factory ship Nisshin Maru. Both sides claimed the other responsible.[4] Pete Thomas of the LA Times speculated as to "whether [Mr. Watson's] actions are truly on behalf of the whales, or merely to obtain dramatic footage for the Animal Planet series, Whale Wars".[5]
On January 15, 2017, the Yushin Maru No. 2 was again found fishing for whales within the Australian Whale Sanctuary by the Sea Shepherd. As the Sea Shepherds scouting helicopter flew overhead, Japanese whalers scrambled to cover a dead Antarctic Minke Whale.[6]
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Sister ship Yūshin Maru with a Whale -
Sister ship Yūshin Maru with a Whale
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Single Ship Report for "9278040", Miramar Ship Index, Accessed 8 February 2011
- ^ a b c Matsuoka, K.; Tamura, T.; Mori, M; Isoda, T.; Yoshida, T.; Moriyama, R.; Yamaguchi, F.; Yoshimura, I.; Wada, Atsushi; Nakai, Kazuyoshi; Tsunekawa, Masaomi; Ogawa, Tomoyuki (June 2012). "Cruise Report of the Second Phase of the Japanese Whale Research Program under Special Permit in the Antarctic (JARPAII) in 2011/2012" (PDF). Institute of Cetacean Research. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
- ^ "Whale Wars: About the Series". Animal Planet. Retrieved November 4, 2008.
- ^ Perry, Michael (5 February 2009). "Anti-whaling protest ship collides with Japanese whaler". Reuters.
- ^ Thomas, Pete (6 February 2009). "Whale war between Japan and Sea Shepherd becomes increasingly confrontational". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
- ^ Reilly, S.B.; Bannister, J.L.; Best, P.B.; Brown, M.; Brownell Jr., R.L.; Butterworth, D.S.; Clapham, P.J.; Cooke, J.; Donovan, G.P.; Urbán, J.; et al. (2008). "Balaenoptera bonaerensis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008. IUCN: e.T2480A9449324. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T2480A9449324.en.
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